Time is running short for Jefferson County residents who want to weigh in on the future of the Madras Aquatic Recreation Center District. Monday, July 14 is the deadline to register to vote — or update an existing registration — in order to participate in the August 4 recall election targeting four of the five MACRD board seats.
Ballots will be mailed beginning Tuesday, July 15. Completed ballots must be returned by 8:00 p.m. on August 4; ballots postmarked by election day may be counted if received within seven days.
Which Board Members Are Facing Recall?
The recall effort targets:
- Ervey Dominguez, board chair
- Jean McCloskey, vice-chair
- Jinnell Lewis, secretary/treasurer
- Frank Maynard, board member
Board member Kora Hollyman is not subject to the recall and will remain on the board regardless of the outcome.
What the Recall Petitions Allege
According to the recall petitions certified by the Jefferson County Clerk's Office, the named board members "took part in the adoption of a 2025 budget that the Oregon Department of Revenue subsequently found noncompliant" due to a lack of a required majority committee vote.
Petitioners further allege the district "incurred over $100,000 in taxpayer-funded wages during a period when the facility was closed to the public," leading to "the elimination of all land-based recreation and a 35% reduction in operating hours." The petitions conclude that a "pattern of fiscal mismanagement and disregard for community input has fundamentally broken the public trust."
Background: Years of Financial Strain
Financial difficulties have surrounded the MACRD for several years. Jefferson County voters rejected ballot measures to restructure the district in both 2024 and 2025. The aquatic center was forced to close entirely during the summer of 2025 and currently operates on a limited schedule.
Last month, the board approved extending acting executive director Courtney Snead's contract for an additional year at approximately $97,000 — roughly $10,000 less than Snead had sought.
The recall election represents one of the most consequential local governance votes in Jefferson County in recent years, with the outcome potentially reshaping leadership of the only public aquatic facility in Madras.
How to Check Your Registration
Residents can verify or update their voter registration at oregonvotes.oregon.gov or by contacting the Jefferson County Clerk's Office at 541-475-5151. The deadline is Monday, July 14 — two days away.